Gender: Feminine
Origin: Persian نسرین
Meaning: “wild rose.”
(nahz-REEN)
The name comes from the Persian word for the wild rose, and is used throughout the former Persian Empire.
As of 2010, its Maghrebin form of Nesrine was the 248th most popular female name in France.
Other forms of the name include:
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “to have renown; fame.”
(KLEEL-yah; KLAY-lee-ah)
The name is derived from the Latin verb, cluere, meaning, “to have renown; fame.”
Clelia is a modern form of the Latin Cloelia, which is a feminine form of Cloelius.
The name was borne by a semi-legendary Roman heroine. Cloelia was taken hostage by the Etruscan king, Lars Porsena, she managed to escape by crossing the Tiber on her horse. She agreed to be returned to the Etruscans as a hostage on the condition that they set free all the young Roman men they had taken hostage so that they may continue the war.
She is the only woman in Roman history ever to have had an equestrian statue erected in her honour.
Her story was the subject of an 18th-century Italian opera.
The name appears in the 1839 novel, The Charterhouse of Parma by Stendhal.
The name has been borne by several other remarkable women. Including:
As of 2010, Clélia was the 258th most popular female name in France.
Other forms of the name include:
Masculine forms are Cloelius and Clelio (Italian).
Clay might make an interesting nickname option.
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Greek Βερενικη
Meaning: “bringer of victory.”
Eng (ber-ə-NIE-see; ber-NEES); Fre (beh-hreh-NEES); It (bey-rey-NEE-cheh)
The name is an ancient Macedonian form of the Attic Greek, Pherenikë (Φερενίκη), which is composed of the Greek elements, phero (φέρω), “to bear” and nike (νίκη), “victory.” The earliest attestation of the name is a 3rd-century priestess of Demeter.
The name has often been associated with Veronica, but there is still debate as to whether these two names are actually related.
Berenice was a common one among the Ptolomy dynasty of Egypt, being borne by at least 9 Ptolomaic women. It also seems to have been common among the late Judaean Kingdom royalty, being born by 3 Jewish princesses, one of whom appears briefly in the New Testament as the name King Herod’s sister.
It was later borne by an early Christian Greek martyr, making the name remain common after the debut of Christianity.
In the English-speaking world, she has appeared interchangeably as Berenice and Bernice. In the United States, Bernice seems to have been the more common form, the highest she ever ranked was in 1921, coming in as the 39th most popular female name.
As of 2011, neither Berenice or Bernice appear in the U.S. top 1000, but Bérénice was the 279th most popular female name in France, (2010).
Other forms of the name include:
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “garden.”
Eng (HORE-tense); Fre (or-TAWNS)
In the English-speaking world, she is considered being one of the most hated baby names, on par with Bertha and Beulah; but at one time, Hortense was very much-loved in the United States, and she is still favored abroad.
Hortense appeared in the U.S. top 1000 between 1880 and 1941. The highest she ranked within those years was at # 375 in 1903. By 1942, she disappeared from the U.S. top 1000 never to be seen again.
Though the sound in contemporary English may not be so pleasant, Hortense has many redeemable qualities. She is derived from the Roman family name, Hortensius, which is derived from the Latin, hortus, meaning, “garden.” Hence horticulture! Her Latin derivative shares its name with the scientific designation of the hydrangea plant. Hortensia is also the name of a type of pear.
Hortense sounds completely different in French, in fact, it sounds rather pleasant. She appears in the French top 500 coming in as the 335th most popular female name in 2010.
Other forms of the name include:
Notable bearers include:
Gender: Masculine
Origin: German/Polish/Italian/French
Meaning: “from Caieta.”
It (guy-TAH-no); Fre (GAH-eh-TAWn); Pol/Germ (KYE-eh-TAHN)
The name is derived from the Latin place name, Caietanus, meaning, “from Caieta”. Caieta is now known as Gaeta.
In ancient Greece, this was a town where prisoners were taken to be executed. The town probably got its name from the wet nurse of Zeus in Greek myth.
It was borne by a 16th-century Italian saint, which spurred the popularity of the name throughout Europe. It has been in usage in German speaking countries as well as in Poland in the form of Kajetan and Cajetan, the name Kaj was later spun off from this name, now being more popular than its formal form in Sweden and Denmark.
As of 2010, its French form of Gaétan was the 122nd most popular male name in France.
Other forms of the name include:
Feminine forms are:
Its designated name day is August 7.
Gender: Masculine
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “golden one.”
Eng (aw-RIL-lee-yen) Fre (Pronunciation)
The name is derived from the Latin cognomen, Aurelianus, which means, “golden one.”
The name was borne by a 3rd-century Roman Emperor.
As of 2010, its French form of Aurélien was the 150th most popular male name in France. Other forms of the name include:
Gender: Masculine
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “eagle.”
(E-tsyo)
The name is derived from the Latin cognomen, Aetius, which is possibly derived from the Greek, aetos (eagle).
The name was borne by several people, including Flavius Aetius, the Roman general noted for defeating Attila the Hun.
Ezio is the Italian form.
As of 2010, Ezio was the 365th most popular male name in France.
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Greek Αθηναις
Meaning: “belonging to Athene.”
Fre (ah-tay-nah-EES)
The name was borne by several early Greek personages, Athenais the Seer was a 4th-century Oracle who supposedly revealed the divine origins of Alexander the Great. It was borne by two Cappodocian queens of Greek lineage and a Byzantine consort. Its most notable bearer, however, is probably Françoise-Athénaïs de Rochechouart de Montespan, Marquise of Montespan and the favorite mistress of King Louis XIV of France (1641-1707).
As of 2010, its French form of Athénaïs was the 496th most popular female name in France.
Gender: Male
Origin: Greek
Meaning “pain.”
Eng (uh-KEELZ); (ah-KEEL-leez); Fre (ah-SHEEL); It (ah-KIL-le)
The name of the great Pythian hero of the Trojan war, Achilles was invincible save for the one spot on his heel that was vulnerable to killing him. Achilles was timelessly struck down after a poisoned arrow pierced his heel. Some legends state that his mother, Thetis, had dipped him in the river Styx to render her child immortal. However, since she was holding him by one heel, the waters were unable to pass through her hands onto the area to which she held him.
Achilles’ Heels is a term used to describe a person’s weakness. In anatomy, Achilles Tendon is used to describe a tendon of the posterior leg.
As of 2009, Achille was the 204th most popular male name in France.
Other forms of the name include:
Gender: Masculine
Origin: Greek Ανατολιος
Meaning: “sunrise.”
The name is derived from the Greek, Anatolios Ανατολιος, which is derived from the word anatole ανατολη (sunrise). The name was borne by a 3rd-century Christian saint, philosopher and martyr.
The name was borne by several other saints.
An anatole is also a musical term employed in jazz.
The name was one of the most popular male names throughout the Soviet Union, before the October Revolution, the name was only used among monks and priests. The name no longer appears in Russia’s top 10.
Its French form of Anatole is 234th most popular male name in France, (2009).
Other forms of the name include: